“Anxiety girl! Able to jump to the worst conclusions in a single bound.”

A popular image pinned and posted on social media daily. This superwoman figure is strong and proud with one hand to her heart and one in the air, proclaiming her strength, even though she struggles with anxiety.

Anxiety is a natural stress response experienced by millions of people. When anxiety becomes too much you may notice you experience heart palpitations and jump to false conclusions- just like anxiety girl.

Most days we are able to bounce back from stressful events, but for those who struggle with anxiety daily, burnout may set it. Imagine a car running on fumes for days, eventually, the car will not start and will be stuck. Burnout feels like you are stuck, just like the car and cannot move.

To truly become superwomen, your body needs to be nourished and supported daily. Most women find this selfish, it’s anything but, it’s a necessity.

Raising twins and running a Pilates studio taught me the true meaning of burnout in 2013. After months of sleep-deprivation, I began studying to become a women’s herbal educator with Dr. Aviva Romm to uncover why I was struggling with anxiety, insomnia, and depression. What I discovered was life-changing.

Diet is always first, but botanicals-specifically adaptogens-can provide the nourishment you need, so you feel like yourself again.

Here are my favorite herbs to help you feel like superwoman every day.

#1 Ashwagandha-Withania somnifera

The number one adaptogen I turn to when I am feeling overwhelmed is Ashwagandha. Known to give you the “strength and stamina of a stallion”, this botanical allowed me to raise twins and run a business at the same time with integrity. Gentle enough for those with anxiety, when taken regularly it can ease tethered nerves and improve sleep.

#2 Reishi-Ganoderma lucidum

Do you find you get sick when you finally go on vacation? Reishi is another soothing adaptogen to take when you get sick frequently, feel stressed out, or run down. Taken regularly, you may notice you can enjoy a vacation, rather than spend it caring for your illness.

Nervines to reduce stress & anxiety

The other category of herbs I would turn to for decreasing daily stress and anxiety would be nervines. If you get tired and wired at night or have trouble sleeping, nervines can bring you great relief.

#3 Milky Oat Tops- Avena sativa

Filled with vitamins and minerals, milky oat tops are one of the best sources to nourish your nervous tissue and promote gentle relaxation. Drink a cup of milky oat tea and stinging nettles daily to boost your vitality. Due to cross contamination, you may want to avoid milky oats if you have celiac disease.

My favorite way to enjoy milky oats is to make a cup of blended tea. Combine equal parts of dried milky oat tops and stinging nettles. Then take 1 tbs. Per 1 cup of boiling water. Cover and steep for 20 minutes for a more medicinal infusion. Strain and add raw honey if desired.

#4 Chamomile- Matricaria recutita

This well-loved tea consumed by millions of people per day can reduce menstrual cramps, shift your erratic mood and ease digestion with just one cup. Safe for children, our family enjoys a cup of chamomile tea most nights to reduce our stress. If you experience ragweed allergies, skip Chamomile and enjoy a cup of Lemon Balm tea.

#5 Lemon Balm-Melissa officinalis

This delightful lemon-tasting tea will have you smiling after just one cup. Known as the “gladdening herb”, it will lift your spirits on the rainiest days.

To enjoy: Take 1 tbs. of the dried herb to 1 cup of boiling water and let steep for 10 minutes. Add milk and honey if desired.

#6 Motherwort-Leonurus cardiaca

From motherhood to menopause, motherwort is a true gift for women. If you experience heart palpitations or have trouble falling back asleep after being woken up, try Motherwort. Not to be used during pregnancy, but should be your first go-to-herb after birth.

To enjoy: Due to its bitter taste, Motherwort is best taken as a tincture throughout the day. Follow the directions on the package.

#7 Lavender- Lavandula officinalis

Tap diluted Lavender Essential oil on your wrists or spray it in the air to soothe stress immediately. Known to induce sleep within 15 minutes, clients proclaim they are sleeping better from Lavender.

To enjoy: Add dried Lavender buds to your Chamomile tea or purchase Lavender Essential Oil to dilute and use in your body products.

Conclusion

Using botanicals every day can nourish your body, reduce your chance of burnout and make you feel like superwoman. If you’re finding life is a little stressful, begin incorporating these suggestions to feel relaxed, balanced and break the cycle of worry.

Have you used botanicals before? Which ones do you love? Start the conversation in the comments below.

Tara Gregorio is a Certified Women’s Herbal Educator and momma of twins, based in Cold Spring, NY. She also shares her favorite remedies for women and children’s health on Pinterest and Instagram.

Tinctures, what are they?

Tinctures are concentrated, a liquid extract made from herbs, water & alcohol.They are quick acting and a convenient way to take herbs. Most tinctures are hydroethanolic extracts-that is a combination of water and alcohol. The combination optimizes the extraction of the plants with both water and alcohol-soluble constituents are desired in the final product.

Tinctures have a long shelf life, frequently lasting many years.The alcohol content preserves the tincture from bacteria and fermentation, even when left at room temperature.Store in a cool dark place and keep out of reach from children.

Why use tinctures?

Tinctures are a safe, fast, effective way to use herbs and seek their medicinal benefits. They are not, however, used when the nutritional aspect of herbs are being sought.For this, one should use teas, infusions, decoctions, and syrups.

What is a glycerite tincture?

Glycerin is used to prepare “alcohol-free” tinctures, and to preserve and sweeten the taste of liquid extracts called- glycerites.Children under 1 year of age, may prefer this for its sweet taste. Some of the children’s tinctures Tara creates combines a glycerine with a tincture to sweeten the taste.

Are tinctures safe for babies?

Borrowed from Herblore: Herbs and herbal products should not be given to babies under 6 months of age, as their digestive systems are not mature enough to handle much more than breastmilk (or formula if its necessary). To give herbs to an infant, its best for the breastfeeding mother to take a full dose of the herb and it will pass to the baby through the breastmilk. ¹

Are tinctures safe for toddlers?

Tinctures are part water, part alcohol.Giving your child 7ml, they will receive 50% water and 50% alcohol.When added to water and juice they receive even less.

Tips for giving tinctures to children

Babies can receive the tincture through the mother’s milk or in a bottle.

Toddlers love taking tinctures with a fun straw or a syringe.

For pregnancy and children, you can pour boiling water over the tincture to dissipate the alcohol. Let cool completely and add juice for children to disguise the taste if needed.

When to take a tincture?

Tinctures are taken based on the urgency of your symptoms.For sinus infections, you may have to take it 3x day for 3 days.For stomach complaints, you can take before or after eating.

What is the dosing for a tincture?

Dosage depends on the weight and age of the person being treated. An adult dose is 60 drops.To treat an acute condition you can take a tincture 1-3x day.

Age — Dosage

Younger than 3 months — 2 drops

3 to 6 months — 3 drops

6 to 9 months — 4 drops

9 to 12 months — 5 drops

12 to 18 months — 7 drops

18 to 24 months — 8 drops

2 to 3 years — 10 drops

3 to 4 years — 12 drops

4 to 6 years — 15 drops

6 to 9 years — 24 drops

9 to 12 years — 30 drops

12 and older —30-60 drops

How do I take a tincture?

To take a tincture, you would drop the suggested amount in a 1/4 cup of water and drink.In emergencies, you may place the tincture directly on your tongue.

How do store tinctures

Ideally, they are kept in a cool location away from direct heat and light and keep away from children.

Where to buy tinctures

Conclusion

I believe tinctures will be our new medicine. They can aid digestion, reduce unwanted symptoms, and reduce antibiotic use. Tinctures can also ease anxiety and depression. They are quick and effective, place a dropperful in your water bottle and feel confident knowing you are supporting your body throughout the day.

As I sat down for lunch with my very hungry five-year-old twins, I noticed they accidentally put mayo on my son’s turkey sandwich. I thought, “he is not going to eat this.” I kindly asked them to make another sandwich and I enjoyed the turkey sandwich with mayo on white bread.

I would have never imagined this would be me six years ago.

I’ve struggled with diet my whole entire life. When I was young, I would break out with acne on the back of my arms. My stomach would bloat out and my digestion was terrible.

In college, I would turn bright red after a few drinks and would never know what foods would upset my stomach.

As I got older, I began avoiding foods. I avoided meat, dairy, and then eventually discovered the gluten-free diet worked for me.

My stomach felt better, but I still never felt “right”, I was always confused with what are the best foods for me.

In 2009, I finally saw a light at the end of the tunnel. I met an Ayurvedic doctor who helped guide me toward an Ayurvedic Vata diet which consisted of eating warm, cooked foods, along with teas to aid digestion and soothe anxiety.

During my pregnancy, I was able to eat anything I wanted. I happily added gluten and dairy back into my life. I fondly remember sitting down to eat two pieces of pizza-alone-when I was seven months pregnant. I practically cried at how wonderful it tasted.

As the years passed and I was able to take care of my health again, I noticed I had to return to the gluten-free lifestyle I had before having children, but this time it was much harder to accommodate as I now had an instant family of four to feed.

When I began searching for courses to help me heal my postpartum depression, I found Dr. Aviva Romm’s Women’s Herbal Educator certification. With shaking hands, I enrolled in her online course hoping she could guide me out of this fog I entered after having twins.

What I received was so much more than I ever imagined.

Dr. Aviva Romm taught me why I was experiencing so much pain and anxiety. Too many doses of antibiotics as a child and young adult, along with my monthly Advil was taking a toll on my gut health and, in turn, my anxiety.

Antibiotics and medications change our gut microbiome, making it difficult to digest certain foods like dairy and gluten. When you heal your gut and reduce medications, you may be able to add gluten back into your life again. Or you may choose to never eat it again.

Are you struggling with what foods to eat as well?

The root of your problem may not be the environment, your genetics or all in your head, it may, in fact, be in your gut.

If that rings true to you. Read on.

Our “second brain, the gut, contains some 100 million neurons; when this system is compromised or “inflamed” disease sets in. As a women’s herbal educator, I always ask you to send me your diet first. What you are eating (or avoiding), can be an indication of what supplements you may need to heal your gut.

What is the 4R approach?

This method addresses the underlying causes of gut imbalances and restores harmony, helping to alleviate symptoms and maybe even disease.

The program suggests you: Remove> Reinoculate> Repair> Reintroduce

How do you heal your gut?

Remove all triggers: i.e. all allergens and cross reactors like gluten and dairy.

Get off medications (with Dr.’s approval and replace with natural remedies ).

Reduce your stress with meditation, exercise, and botanicals.

Heal your gut lining with the 4R approach below.

1. Remove

Take out what ails you. The top allergens are wheat, corn, eggs, dairy, peanuts, and soybeans. Add in whole grains (like quinoa and rice), organic vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats. Remove all allergens for 4-6 weeks or it may take up to a year to heal your gut with an auto-immune disease.

Encourage whole, organic foods if able and consider shopping the perimeter of the grocery store.

2. Replace

After 2-4 weeks on the Elimination diet, Introduce a good quality digestive enzyme containing protease, lipase, amylase, and pepsin. This is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women, too. I like Enzymedica, you can buy it here.

Adding bitters, like Urban Moonshine Bitters will trigger the digestive system to produce digestive enzymes, secrete bile and balance HCI levels in the stomach. Take bitters 10-15 minutes before your meal.
If you have a lot of nausea with meals or when you take supplements, you might also need some additional stomach acid in the form of a supplement called Betaine HCl, or try 1 Tbs. of apple cider vinegar in water with your meals. {click on links above to see the companies I love}

3. Reinoculate

Wait 2 weeks for the elimination diet or up to 6 weeks. Adding in a probiotic can give you gas and bloating if you do not remove the allergens first.

You want it to have a minimum of 5 billion CFU in each dose, and a good range of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacter species.
Fermented foods such as miso, sauerkraut, and kimchee can also be a helpful advantage to your gut, add it into your diet 3-4x week. Although very delicious, kombucha can be high in sugar so consider using sparingly.

4. Repair

Include the following supplement for 6-weeks or more to repair your gut. The following supplements can be taken for up to 6 months to help to heal the intestinal lining:

Tumeric- I personally like to take turmeric in a blended tincture like Adrena nourish

DGL licorice (aloe and licorice are not for internal use during pregnancy; these are fine for children) are some of the most effective herbs for healing the gut lining.

They are best taken in capsule or extract form, though turmeric can also be added to foods.

Do you get heartburn?

DGL or diglyceride licorice is a great alternative to tums and does not raise your blood pressure. DGL licorice is available as chewable lozenges and thus may be the simplest one to give to kids. Klair labs has one here or Pure encapsulation combines aloe, slippery elm, and marshmallow root together!

Zinc.

5-10 mg/day for children 4-7 years, 10-20 mg/day for children to age 12, 25-40 mg/day for older children and adults.

An antioxidant supplement

Look for one containing vitamins A and carotenoids, C, E, and selenium.

Here are examples of other practitioners using the 4R approach for healing

Conclusion

If your struggling with digestive concerns and find you’re avoiding foods, there is hope. The 4R approach is more than an elimination diet. It can heal your digestive tract and reduce bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation for years to come.

Warmly~

Tara

{Keep in mind, I am not a doctor. Please consult your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet.}

The scar tissue formed from C-sections, episiotomies, surgeries, and perineal tearing can cause numbness and an inability for the adhesions to lay down in a proper pattern, affecting all your muscles around the area. Furthermore, if you have scar tissue internally, it may be affecting your organs.

For over the past seventeen years, I’ve worked with women of all ages and the pain doesn’t seem to subside with time.

(Here’s a nice image to demonstrate the pull of scar tissue)

One way to speed the healing of your scar tissue is to practice a scar massage.

Here are symptoms you may be having due to the scar tissue:

8 Symptoms You May Be Experiencing From Your C-section Scar

pain during sex

clitoral and/or labial pain

feeling like you need to go to PEE a lot

numbness around the scar

lumpy or hard spots over the scar

pelvic, low back and pain in the groin

digestive troubles

can’t feel your abdominals doing work

3 Symptoms You May Be Experiencing From An Episiotomy

difficulty going to the bathroom

pain/tension in your pelvis

pain or discomfort with sex

So, What can you do about your pain?

======>>> Massage your scar:)

{keep in mind, I am not a massage therapist}

The scar tissue formed after an incision may not lay down as “neatly” and is less pliable and flexible. A gentle scar massage can “break-up” this tissue creating more freedom in the area and in your overall body and may reduce the tension you are feeling.

How soon can you practice a scar massage?

You want to wait for at least 6-weeks after any abdominal surgery and consult with your doctor before adding this in. Do not massage the scar if there is any oozing or redness. Please see your doctor!

How do I do a scar massage?

There are 4 ways to do a scar massage

massage gentle circles over the scar {and any area of tension}

press and wiggle- press down and shift forward and back slightly

go over the scar left to right and right to left

use a SOFT massage ball/foam roller and gently sit on it and breathe for your perineal area

You can use coconut oil or any other oil to help the fingers skim over the skin.

Practice this for 1 minute most days of the week. Be gentle and over time increase your pressure.

Take your time and realize healing takes time. The best types of exercise for you are breathing, walking, core restoration and light bodyweight exercises until the scar tissue heals. Possibly 9-12 months.

Diet is also VERY important to heal the scar tissue. Make sure you are getting enough healthy protein at each meal.

When the scar tissue is released, you will unwind years of tightness and be able to connect to your core AND pelvic floor with ease.

Have you experienced pain from your scars? I want to hear from you. Tell me below in the comment section.

What if you could decrease your flu symptoms naturally? If you prefer to use natural remedies during the cold and flu season, read on.

Influenza, otherwise known as the flu, can be debilitating and cause great suffering for you and your family. Botanicals and homepathic remedies can decrease your symptoms and ease the pain of the flu.

The first time I had the flu, I swore I had malaria. I even drove myself to the ER, just for them to tell me it was the Flu. I called my mother at 5:00 am crying and begging her to help me. Over the next three days, she helped me change the sheets four times and nursed me back to health. I missed ten whole days of work and thought I was dying. I took the medication that I knew at the time and slept the days away. Little did I know there were an alternative way and natural remedies would ease my symptoms and decrease the pain the next time I had the flu.

In this post, you’ll discover the symptoms of the flu, when to call the doctor, the herbs, and homeopathy I use to shorten the duration of the flu and ease the achiness.

What Are The Symptoms Of The Flu

High fever of 102-104

Severe achiness-(in fact, it used to be called breakbone disease)

A sore throat

A cough

Extreme fatigue

Lack of appetite

When to call the doctor for the flu

Signs of dehydration

High fever persisting (103.5 and over)

A severe headache

Stiff neck or pain in the back of the neck

Persistent vomiting

Fever for more than 4 days

A severe cough with chest pain and shortness of breath (could be pneumonia)

The achiness is usually what gives away the symptoms of the flu. If you feel like it may be something else, see a doctor right away.

In the United States, the flu usually hits between December and February. Adults 65 and older and children under 5 are at the greatest risk of developing flu-related illnesses. {read more here}

I realize the Flu is not to be taken lightly. If you are generally a healthy adult these remedies may be right for you.

Home Remedies For The Flu

Tinctures for the flu

A tincture is a concentrated liquid herbal extract taken 2-3x day in a 1/4 cup of water.

The #1 recommended remedy for the flu. I’ve used both the tincture and homeopathy. I prefer the homeopathic dose for quicker results.

#2 Crampbark {Viburnum opulus}

As suggested, crampbark is used for cramps and aches in the body.

#3 Jamaican dogwood {Piscidia piscipula}

As an analgesic, Jamaican dogwood can reduce pains in the body for cold and flu season and also works great for PMS.

#4 Elderberry Syrup- In one study, Elderberry Syrup was used to treat 60 patients suffering from influenza. “Symptoms were relieved on average 4 days earlier and use of rescue medication was significantly less in those receiving elderberry extract compared with placebo. Elderberry extract seems to offer an efficient, safe and cost-effective treatment for influenza.”

Homeopathy For The Flu

Homeopathy is my preferred way to shorten the duration of the flu. Keep in mind, your symptoms may increase for a moment and then they should improve within 20 minutes. Homeopathy can be tricky to use: read my post Everything You Need To Know About Homeopathy Here.

Homeopathy is based on the person symptoms. It is best to seek out a homeopath for the best results.

How do you know if boneset is right for you? Your symptoms would include:

Patient experiences a deep aching in the bones and even the eyeballs are sore.

May feel totally wiped out and unable to exert the least effort.

Is usually thirsty, especially as the chill begins to come on.

How do you take it?

Take Boneset 30c, wait 20 minutes take again and wait.. you should feel an improvement.

You can use herbal remedies with homeopathy.

Other homeopathic remedies are available as well if these symptoms do not match.

Teas For The Flu

Tea can be nourishing and hydrating when you are suffering from the flu. The following herbs can help reduce a fever and fill the body with vitamins and minerals during the cold and flu season.

Try these teas as a single cup or blend daily. Enjoy 3-4 cups if you’re able to sip on it.

Lemon Balm

Yarrow

Linden Flower

Elderflower

Catnip

Peppermint.

Conclusion

I agree the flu is not to be taken lightly. If your symptoms do not improve in 4 days or you feel uneasy, please contact your doctor. To be prepared, purchase Boneset 30c in preparation for when the flu hits your home this winter.

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About Us
Certified women’s herbal educator, Tara Gregorio brings you online courses and health consultations so you can decrease your medication use and improve your energy. She combines her love of botanicals and homeopathy to teach you how to own your health. Book your complimentary exploratory session today!

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